County FMR · HUD FY2026
Cook County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Cook County, MN - 7% below the US average.
- $888
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $973
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +5.3%
- YoY change
- -7%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Cook is the 7th cheapest of 87 counties in Minnesota by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 5.3% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #7
- cheapest of 87 in Minnesota (2BR)
- -1%
- vs the state average
- $35,520
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +5.3%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.6%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (33.4%); 13 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Cook County, MN. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Cook County, Minnesota at $888 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $973/mo and a studio is $671/mo. This is 7% lower than the national average of $959 and 1% below the Minnesota average of $899.
Rent increased5.3% from FY 2025 ($843), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $35,520/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Minnesota. Population: 5,611. Population grew 6.1% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's faster than Minnesota's statewide growth of +3.4% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Cook County
The Cook County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Minnesota's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.
Cook County's 1-bedroom rent runs 7% below the US average of $959 and 1% lower than the Minnesota state average of $899. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$843 in FY 2025 to $888 in FY 2026 - a change of +5.3%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $888, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $35,520 per year (about $2,960/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $973 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 5,611 and a county median household income of $71,643, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $640 | $671 | +$31 (+4.8%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $843 | $888 | +$45 (+5.3%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $933 | $973 | +$40 (+4.3%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,240 | $1,288 | +$48 (+3.9%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,347 | $1,415 | +$68 (+5.0%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Cook County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
How we calculate this
Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.
Cook County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Cook sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$973 higher than 31% of 3,145 counties
Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026
How Cook compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Minnesota counties
- Hennepin
Hennepin County
$1,405 1BR FMR / mo
- Ramsey
Ramsey County
$1,405 1BR FMR / mo
- Dakota
Dakota County
$1,405 1BR FMR / mo
- Anoka
Anoka County
$1,405 1BR FMR / mo
- Washington
Washington County
$1,405 1BR FMR / mo
- St. Louis
St. Louis County
$978 1BR FMR / mo
- Cook
Cook County
$888 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Cook is highlighted. Nearby Minnesota counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Hennepin County ($1,405), Ramsey County ($1,405), Dakota County ($1,405), Anoka County ($1,405), Washington County ($1,405), St. Louis County ($978), Cook County (this county) ($888).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $888/mo compares to Minnesota salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | MN Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $124,540 | 8.6% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $100,870 | 10.6% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $96,130 | 11.1% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $83,310 | 12.8% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $81,100 | 13.1% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $81,430 | 13.1% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $67,320 | 15.8% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $63,120 | 16.9% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $61,090 | 17.4% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $48,560 | 21.9% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $47,470 | 22.4% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $38,320 | 27.8% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $38,160 | 27.9% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,310 | 30.2% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $31,950 | 33.4% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Cook County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Cook (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 41.6% overall, from $627 to $888. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 10.6% (FY 2023).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑5.3% | $671 | $888 | $973 |
| FY 2025 ↑4.6% | $640 | $843 | $933 |
| FY 2024 ↑10.3% | $613 | $806 | $905 |
| FY 2023 ↑10.6% | $552 | $731 | $826 |
| FY 2022 ↑2.6% | $503 | $661 | $757 |
| FY 2021 ↑2.7% | $484 | $644 | $734 |
| FY 2020 | $471 | $627 | $714 |
Where Cook County Ranks in Minnesota
Cook County is not part of any federally-designated metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area -- an independent rental market not administratively tied to a larger urban core. By 2-bedroom FMR, it ranks #7 of 87 counties in Minnesota. Nearest by rank: Aitkin County ($973), Big Stone County ($973), Brown County ($973), Cass County ($973), Chippewa County ($973), Clearwater County ($973), Cook County (this county) ($973), Cottonwood County ($973), Faribault County ($973), Grant County ($973), Jackson County ($973), Kanabec County ($973), Kandiyohi County ($973), Kittson County ($973), Koochiching County ($973).
Nearby Counties in Minnesota
Largest counties by population in Minnesota
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Cook County? ▼
How does Cook County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Cook County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Cook County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Cook County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Cook County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Cook County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Cook County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Cook's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $888 implies about $35,520/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
- See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Cook can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.